PIA Press Release2006/10/11

Army condemns NPA attack on Silay Airport

by Rutchie Cabahug Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (11 October) -- The government will not be deterred by the barbarous acts of the National People's Army whose latest act of terrorism was the bombing of the Silay International Airport in Bacolod City.

"Their brazen attack on the airport project only confirms their tag as 'Terrorists.' It was very anti-people. What they did is not only a direct assault on those whose jobs at the construction site are at stake but on the government's development vision to alleviate poverty," Brig. Gen. Jose T. Barbieto, Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Cagayan de Oro City, said.

Thus, he said, the government will continue to press on with measures to secure vital projects in the country and to further intensify its counter-terrorism campaign in all fronts.

Along this line, Barbieto said, the Army is now hiring and accepting interested applicants nationwide to fill the quota for 250 slots of the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) and Officer Preparatory Course/Called to Active Duty (OPC/CAD) for the 4th quarter, this year.

Benefits for successful applicants will include the following: job and financial security, initial gross pay of Php17,000/month, free medical and dental services, chance to go on local and foreign schooling for free and pension upon retirement and scholarship grants to their dependents.

Meanwhile, Major Julius A. Tomines, Chief, Procurement & Attrition Branch, Army Personnel Management Center said the pre-written examinations (PWE) have been scheduled in Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City on Nov. 9-12 and Nov. 14-16, 2006, respectively.

He said applicants must pass the Army Aptitude Test Battery (AATB) before taking the Army Qualifying Exam and the Special Written Exam as they have been instructed to proceed to the following designated areas for the pre-qualifying/screening and registration:

All applicants, Tomines said, are required to bring original copies of their NSO-authenticated birth certificates, college diplomas, transcripts of records and any valid Identification Card.

Applicants must also possess the following qualifications: graduates of any baccalaureate degree with good scholastic record, stands at least 5'4" tall for males and 5'2" for females, with no pending case in both military and civilian courts.

Particularly for the OCC, applicants must be single and without a child, between 21 to 28 years old and physically and mentally fit to undergo one (1) year of rigorous military training.

On the other hand, applicants for the OPC must also be graduates of the Probationary Officer Training Course (POTC), commissioned 2nd Lieutenant (2LT), inactive status in the Reserve Force, not more than 31 years of age on the date of the CAD and physically and mentally fit to undergo six (6) months of rigorous military training. (PIA 10) [top]